Philadelphia Treatment Court (PTC) offers first-time, non-violent drug offenders like J* an opportunity to avoid incarceration and rebuild their lives.
“Since entering the Treatment Court program, I’ve gained stability and a clearer focus on my personal goals,” J says.
First, an offender receives an evaluation from PTC staff to understand their treatment needs. If substance use treatment is appropriate, they may plead nolo contendere, or “no contest,” to their crime and enter a treatment program, at which point PTC’s case management team supports them through the program.
J shares his perspective on his experience with PTC: “Attending treatment and hearing others’ recovery stories keeps me motivated, helps me avoid drugs outside of my prescribed medications, and pushed me to keep moving forward, including searching for employment.”
PTC is part of PHMC’s continuum of Forensic Services programs, which provide assessment and case management services under criminal justice supervision as an alternative to incarceration. These services are designed to enhance community safety by reducing recidivism.
To learn more about PTC and the rest of PHMC’s Forensic Services programs, visit https://forensicservices.phmc.org.
